Travel

Hold A Training Camp At Home

For some children, the biggest challenge of camp is not so much being far from home as it is sleeping so close to nature. Night falls and suddenly ponderosa pines take on bearlike shapes, and then Camp Sunshine doesn’t seem quite so sunny. One thing you can do to help your child become more comfortable sleeping outside is to set up a tent in the backyard for her and a friend. Make s’mores in the microwave and sing campfire songs (an empty orange powdered-Gatorade canister overturned on a headlamp makes a good faux fire in a pinch). In this familiar environment your child can become acquainted with the sounds of the outdoors while you are still relatively close at hand.

Practice Homesick Prevention

Most camp counselors agree that calling home is not the best cure for homesickness. So what can you do? Acknowledge to yourself and your child that some pangs for home are a normal part of the camp experience and be positive about your child’s ability to overcome them. During the day, most kids are too busy to pine for Mom and Dad. Rest time and bedtime can be more difficult, however. Before your child leaves for camp, encourage her to talk with camp counselors about any concerns, including homesickness. Camp instructors have seen many cases before and will be able to assess the seriousness and offer support. If your child does call, encourage her to stay the course. Also, if it’s your own feelings that are at issue, remember that you can call the camp to ask how your child is doing without letting her know about the call.

Send Your Love

Whether your child is missing home or has completely adapted to camp life, a letter from home will brighten her day. Make sure to send mail early, since postal service tends to move more slowly in rural areas. Think in terms of sending something that will be special to your child � a photo of the dog or a book of jokes she can share with new friends � rather than extravagant caches. In fact, sending large quantities of food can be a problem, because often counselors have to store it away from your child’s cabin to avoid animal visits to the sleeping areas.

Originally posted on June 19, 2006 @ 5:47 am

Looking to make your child’s summer camp experience a success? While much of that fate lies in the hands of the camp staff, there are things parents can do to help their kids transition smoothly.

Do Your Homework

Nothing will influence the success of your child’s camp experience as much as the camp you choose, so it pays to go beyond the brochures and talk to real people. Past campers and their parents can lend valuable insight into the day-to-day camp experience. Attending camp fairs can also give you an opportunity to meet camp reps all in one place and compare routines and amenities. Some camps, particularly wilderness experience programs, hold parent information meetings where you’ll get a better sense of the staff and the program than you will by clicking on Websites. Even if you can’t meet instructors in person, call and ask questions and double-check staff credentials.

Tip!

Let your child help choose the type of camp. Nowadays camps cater to every interest group � from golfers to rock hounds, engineers to horse lovers. Passion for an activity can help fuel passion for camp.

Bring A Buddy

Nothing makes the transition to a new environment easier than arriving with a pal in tow, and shared camp memories can definitely deepen a friendship. However, even if your child is interested in attending a different camp than her pals, you can help jump-start a camp friendship. Call the camp registration office and ask to be connected with other kids who live in your area and are registered for the same session. Then, set up a pre-camp lunch date with a parent and child. Even one meeting with another child will help break the ice and make stepping into the new social environment easier.

Originally posted on June 18, 2006 @ 9:02 pm